69novels Chapter 4 From 1 to 1 cent, the final chance to win!
Chapter 4 From 1 to 1 cent, the final chance to win!
During the pause, Li Xingchen declared that he would appear in a place no one would expect.
In fact, most people didn't believe it at the time. The court is only so big, and all kinds of ATO tactics have already been used up. Moreover, there are only a few seconds left. Once you receive the serve, you have to shoot immediately. There is no chance to make a second pass or move. How could there be any unexpected position?
Ultimately, it still depends on the individual abilities of the players to create a miracle.
However, Li Xingchen actually ran to a position that no one expected, retreating directly to the midfield.
In the NBA, there are actually quite a few three-pointers taken from midcourt or even backcourt, but those are usually because there isn't enough time to get the ball to the frontcourt at the end of the quarter or at the end of the game, so they take a long three-pointer to see if there's a chance to make it.
But now the Warriors have possession after the timeout and can inbound the ball directly to the frontcourt, so why would they run to the midcourt or backcourt?
unless……
Some people are very confident that they can hit three-pointers from mid-court!
Clearly, Li Xingchen falls into this category.
Dillon didn't even have time to pounce and create any effective interference—this is somewhat similar to the situation when Curry first entered the league. While others would drive towards the inside with the ball, Curry would drive from the inside to the outside to shoot a three-pointer, which also created the famous scene where Kerr's hands went up and then his hands went down in his hands.
Li Xingchen is doing something similar now, except the distance is even greater, and he's breaking through in the opposite direction to the midfield!
Aside from Curry, who was serving the ball, everyone else in the arena was completely bewildered.
It would be strange if Dillon could keep up!
With virtually no interference, Li Xingchen didn't hesitate to pull up for a three-pointer and unleash the logo three-pointer!
He had already anticipated everyone's movements in his mind, and the position and angle of his attack were exactly as expected.
At this moment, the basketball hoop is as vast as the ocean to him; no matter how he shoots, the basketball will obediently fall into the hoop.
He was confident that once he made a move, it would be a sure kill!
Under the gaze of tens of millions of people around the world, time seemed to stand still, all sounds were blocked out, and only the basketball in the air continued to fly.
After traveling a very long trajectory, the basketball finally swished precisely into the net.
The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder, interspersed with shouts of Li Xingchen's name.
This is definitely an honor for an Asian player in the NBA.
Wiggins, who was on the same side, ran over with a big grin and gave Li Xingchen a high-five, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
On the other side, Curry's eyes were also full of admiration.
The score is 109-110, with only 3.2 seconds left.
In fact, Li Xingchen completed the process from receiving the serve to shooting almost instantly, but because the mid-court distance was too far, the ball flew in the air for a bit too long.
Because the clock only stops after a goal is scored, more than three seconds have already elapsed, and the situation remains extremely precarious for the Warriors.
Currently, Li Xingchen's data is simply astonishing.
Playing time: 37 seconds, 12 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 blocks, 2 steals, 4-for-4 shooting, 4-for-4 three-pointers, 150% true shooting percentage.
His 37-second performance is far more impressive than the 37-minute performances of countless others, not to mention that all his points, assists, and steals are crucial for the team.
However, the game is not over yet, and neither side has had a timeout.
The Warriors were still down by one point with only 3.2 seconds left on the clock, and the Grizzlies still had possession of the ball.
It can only be said that the possibility of turning the tide, which was less than 0.01% at the beginning, gradually rose to 0.1% and then 1% thanks to Li Xingchen's brilliant performance.
It remains an almost impossible task.
There are only two possibilities for turning things around right now.
The first option is to intercept the Grizzlies' inbound pass and win the game within three seconds.
But the Grizzlies have already made this mistake once, so how could they possibly give them another chance?
Even if they can disrupt their serve and prevent them from receiving the ball smoothly, they only need to pass it to the backcourt, preventing the Warriors from gaining complete ball control immediately, and the three seconds will pass in no time.
Another option is to forgo the steal and immediately commit a foul the moment the Grizzlies receive the ball, allowing them to take two more free throws.
If the Grizzlies make both free throws and take a three-point lead, the Warriors will still have a chance to tie the game; but if they miss, the Warriors will have a chance to win the game outright.
However, this so-called "opportunity" was also lost because the Warriors had run out of timeouts, and they could only inbound the ball from the backcourt.
Given the remaining time, they are unlikely to be able to complete a normal shot. Their only option is to throw out a three-pointer from the backcourt, hoping for that almost impossible possibility.
Overall, it can be said that there is basically no solution.
However, since it is possible for a 0.01% chance to become 1%, it is also possible for a 1% chance to become 100%.
In the final three seconds, no one will give up.
The Grizzlies inbounded the ball and, as expected, threw it directly to their backcourt, preventing the Warriors from quickly regaining control and getting a shot off, even after they managed to steal the ball.
The Warriors didn't fall for it. They decisively gave up on the steal, allowing Morant to receive the ball safely before quickly fouling him.
But Morant isn't stupid; he wouldn't just stand there waiting for the Warriors to foul him. So, with his efforts to break free, more than two seconds were lost.
With only one second remaining in the entire match, the game was over.
The Grizzlies lead by one point, and Morant takes two free throws.
The first penalty, with a loud "clang," missed.
All the Warriors players and fans in the arena began to breathe rapidly.
Earlier, Morant had scored four consecutive crucial free throws, but he missed at the last moment.
Is this destiny?
For the second free throw, Morant should have intentionally missed, because at that moment, it made no difference for the Grizzlies to be leading by one or two points.
If he intentionally misses a free throw, the process of fighting for the rebound will be enough to run out of time, ultimately causing the Warriors to suffer a bitter defeat.
However, perhaps because he lacked experience and had never encountered this situation before, or perhaps because he was too nervous on the court to react in time, Morant ultimately made the second free throw.
The score is 109-111, with 1.0 second remaining and the Warriors have possession of the ball.
They had no timeouts and could only inbound the ball from the backcourt.
The right position, the way to receive the ball, the angle of release...
Li Xingchen already had the best answer in his mind.
He will seize that one sliver of possibility amidst 99% impossibility, personally bringing a perfect end to this match that he has revived the suspense of.
Draymond Green serves the ball.
In an offensive possession that requires outside shooting, he was essentially useless on the court, but fortunately he does have some passing skills, so he is the most suitable person to inbound the ball.
Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole stood on either side of the top of the key in the frontcourt, each drawing the attention of one player. Jordan Poole is a rising backup scorer for the Warriors this year, considered Curry's point guard backup. He had a good shooting touch in this game, so in this crucial offensive possession, he was brought in by Kerr during the free throw opportunity to create space.
Curry and Li Xingchen positioned themselves in the backcourt according to the tactics, ready to receive the ball.
The Warriors have a few options; they can pass the ball directly to the frontcourt, which would shorten the shooting distance.
This means that it is difficult to accurately pass the ball to a teammate after the kickoff, and if the ball is not controlled and shot immediately, the time will run out quickly.
Another option is a normal backcourt inbounds pass. Relatively speaking, because the distance is closer, the chances of a successful inbounds pass are greater. However, in that case, the receiver is forced to take a very long three-pointer from the full court, and whether it goes in or not is entirely up to fate.
This is how it should be for most players, but the Warriors have Stephen Curry and Li Xingchen—one is a modern three-point god who has made countless logo threes and backcourt threes; the other made four out of four three-pointers in just forty seconds, including a logo three from midcourt!
For others, three-pointers from the backcourt are entirely a matter of luck; but for these two, it's still uncertain.
The Warriors did indeed intend to inbound the ball normally from the backcourt. Wiggins and Poole drew two defenders to the frontcourt. Of the remaining three Grizzlies players, one was dangling in front of Green to interfere with the inbound pass, while the other two were closely guarding Curry and Li Xingchen respectively.
The guy sticking close to Li Xingchen was none other than Dillon Brooks—I don't know what that guy was thinking, he actually abandoned Curry at the last moment and set his sights on Li Xingchen instead.
Regardless, the Grizzlies have done everything they can to provide the best defensive support for Curry and Li Xingchen's shooting abilities.
"Kid, you don't think three-pointers from the backcourt are as easy to make as they are from the frontcourt, do you?"
"How about we bet a hundred dollars? If you make it, I'll give it to you; if you miss, you'll have to admit in the interview that I've completely shut you down, okay?"
While sticking close to Li Xingchen, Dillon was also talking incoherently.
Li Xingchen knew that this was his psychological tactic. In such a decisive moment, such provocative words could easily cause players with unstable mental qualities to lose their rhythm or movements due to emotional fluctuations.
For a competition, even the slightest influence can drastically alter the outcome.
So Li Xingchen remained unmoved, simply replying coldly, "Poor Mr. Brooks, I doubt either type of three-pointer would be easy for you to make!"
Dillon's face was ashen, but he didn't say or do anything more.
If someone were to pull some kind of stunt at this point and get a technical foul, causing the opponent to take free throws, that would truly be a laughingstock.
"Beep—"
The referee blew his whistle, and the serve entered the final five-second countdown.
The players on the court started moving, but no matter how fast Curry moved, the Grizzlies' defenders clung to him like glue, preventing him from getting a good chance to receive the ball. On the other side, the player responsible for disrupting Green's inbound pass was also mainly blocking Curry's path—in such a crucial moment, even a fool would know that Curry absolutely could not be allowed to receive the ball.
On the other hand, Dillon's height was similar to Li Xingchen's, but his wingspan was much shorter, which meant he couldn't completely cover his opponent.
Normally, Green would definitely look to Curry first for a game-winning shot, but the reality is that he can't do that.
Adding to Li Xingchen's crazy performance in the last half minute, whether it was Green inbounding the ball from the sidelines, Curry running on the court, or Kerr sitting on the sidelines, everyone felt that he deserved this chance to make the game-winning shot.
Pass this on to Li Xingchen!
On the sidelines, Green made up his mind, seized the opportunity, and accurately threw the ball into Li Xingchen's hands!